Events

Ashland’s Havurah Shir Hadash Synagogue presents a special weekend with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and his wife, Eve Ilsen, April 20-22, 2012. Reb Zalman, as he is affectionately called, is one of the most important Jewish spiritual leaders of our generation.  Founder of the Jewish Renewal movement, he has ordained more than 175 rabbis and cantors,
    Reb Zalman was born in Poland in 1924, raised in Vienna, imprisoned by the Vichy-French government, and fled to New York City at the age of 17.  He was ordained at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in 1947 and subsequently received an M.A. in the Psychology of Religion at Boston University and a Doctor of Hebrew Letters at Hebrew Union College. For 20 years Reb Zalman was Professor of Religion at the University of Manitoba, Canada. In 1975 he became a Professor of Jewish Mysticism and Psychology of Religion at Temple University, and in 1995 was called to the World Wisdom Chair at Naropa University. Reb Zalman is currently an emeritus professor at both Temple and Naropa.
    In 1989 Reb Zalman founded the Spiritual Eldering Institute.  He was among a group of rabbis who traveled to India to meet with the Dalai Lama to discuss diaspora survival (the survival of the Jewish people for 2000 years in exile from their homeland) with him.
    This is a rare opportunity to learn and pray with a teacher who is cited by Time Magazine as one of the most influential Jewish leaders in the United States. Rabbi David Zaslow says, “With Reb Zalman being 87 years old, this is a very special chance to learn with such an inspiring and influential teacher – an authentic spiritual leader for seekers on any spiritual path.” The weekend will begin Friday afternoon, April 20, at the spiritual immersion pool at the Jackson Wellsprings, followed by Shabbat services led by Reb Zalman at 7:30 PM at the Havurah.
    Saturday begins with Shabbat services at 10 AM at the Havurah, followed by lunch and workshops with visiting rabbis.  On Saturday evening at 7:30 PM there will be a panel discussion focusing on bringing the highs we reach in our spiritual practice into our everyday lives, with Reb Zalman, Eve, Jean Houston and Prof. Dr. M. Ibrahim H. Baha'uddin Chishti , Provost and Professor of Islamic Studies and Cultural Studies of the Starr King School of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
Throughout the weekend music and prayer will be led by the musicians of P'nai Or of Portland, Brian Yosef Schachter-Brooks, musical director of Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley along with Cyrise Beatty Schachter of the Havurah.
    Cost of the weekend is $280 for registration . Some partial work trade scholarships are available.  Registration fee includes the entire weekend of teachings plus Friday night dessert, Saturday lunch, Sunday bagel breakfast, and the Saturday night event. Babies and toddlers are free as long as they do not take up a seat. Childcare will be provided (for an extra fee) during the Friday evening and Saturday morning services. For more information, and to register, please see www.havurahshirhadash.org where you can download the registration form and a page with frequently asked questions. For more detailed information phone (541) 488-7716 or contact Ayala Zonnenschein at ayala@ashlandhavurah.org.